The Wilmslow Express has teamed up with the much-loved charity East Cheshire Hospice to make 2013 a year to remember in its proud history.

The hospice needs to raise around £6,000 a day to provide free care for adults with life-limiting illnesses in east Cheshire. Money from the NHS accounts for 23 per cent of its running costs.

Since the hospice is such an important part of our community, we want readers to get involved and support the charity how they can.

It might be organising a fundraising event, attending one of the hospice’s many activities or simply making a donation. Each week throughout the year we will feature the vital and varied roles of staff looking after patients, their families and carers, and tell your stories about how you are helping.

Judy Gordon, Wilmslow Express editor, said: “Most of us will have been touched by East Cheshire Hospice at some point in our lives and seen  what a vital service it is.

“It’s so important that we don’t take the hospice for granted and it is up to us to do everything we can to help. East Cheshire Hospice wants to be here for everyone in another 25 years – so why not help out now?”

The hospice has a 15-bed in-patient unit where patients can stay for end of life care, rehabilitation, symptom control or respite care. It also has a day care centre, known as the Sunflower Centre, at its site on Millbank Drive, Macclesfield.

Services include physiotherapy, occupational therapy, social work, a chaplaincy and a range of complimentary therapies, including acupuncture, Reiki, reflexology and aromatherapy.

Hospice director Mike Pyrah said: “We want to use the opportunity of our 25th anniversary to recognise and thank those people who’ve supported us over the years, to celebrate the excellent care we provide, but also to act as a springboard thinking about the next five years and ultimately the next 25 years and the services we want to provide into the future.

“We’ve got lots of fundraising events planned and want to make them bigger and better this year.

“Most of our external funding comes from the communities we serve and we want to strengthen the links with the people who keep us going every year.”

If you want help the East Cheshire Hospice 25th Anniversary call 01625 610364 or email events@echospice.rg.uk .